Posted on Tue, Sep. 01, 2009 10:15 PM
North wears the bull’s-eye in Kansas 6A
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No high school football team in Kansas history put together a more dominant stretch than Olathe North which won seven state championships in eight seasons from 1996 to 2003.
The Eagles haven’t reached the Kansas 6A title game since, though North did lose the 5A championship 21-14 to Salina South in 2004.
Now, most prognosticators have dubbed coach Pete Flood’s team, coming off an 8-3 season, as the 6A favorite.
“It would be absolutely great if we could win another one,” said senior safety Jason Peete. “We’d be restoring history and letting everybody in Olathe know that we set the standard again. That’s our ultimate goal.”
Flood, however, is quick to pump the brakes on such talk.
“Just based on the amount of kids we brought back, we expected a lot of attention, but it really means nothing to us right now,” he said. “We haven’t proven anything, and we have a long way to go.”
He ducked the assertion that North is the favorite in 6A and shrugged off the suggestion that the Eagles have a great chance to add to the program’s legacy.
“I think we have the same opportunity that every other team has right now, and there are probably five teams or six or seven on the east side of the state that are all talented enough to (win state),” Flood said. “If we’re looking that far down the road, we’re going to be in trouble. If we get caught looking down the road, we’ll be sitting at home in November. We’re trying to stay in the here and now.”
The Eagles know all about the dangers of looking ahead after their state quarterfinal loss to Lawrence Free State last season.
“When you look ahead, you get beat,” said senior linebacker and running back Tre Walker, who committed to Kansas State last spring.
While Flood plays coy about North’s chances, others look at North’s abundance of talent.
Walker returns in the backfield along with senior James Franklin, who gained nearly 2,000 yards and scored 22 touchdowns a year ago. Quarterback David Blazevic also returns, and the backfield will be bolstered by juniors Adonis Saunders, a running back, and Victor Simmons, a quarterback.
Across the line, the Eagles return seniors Lucas Vincent, Jake Carroll, Zach Maggard and Oliver Venegas. Senior Jordan Cartwright and junior Josh Finley have been battling for the starting job at right guard.
“We’ve learned how to play more as a team, especially on offense,” Venegas said. “ We’ve got some shoes that will be hard to fill, but guys are stepping up.”
Coach: Pete Flood (fourth year at ON and overall, 22-10)
2008: 8-3 (lost in Kansas 6A quarterfinals)
Returning offensive starters: 7
Returning defensive starters: 7
2009 schedule
Home games at ODAC unless indicated
All games at 7 p.m.
S4: at Leavenworth (Abeles Field)
S11: SM Northwest (CBAC)
S18: at Olathe Northwest (CBAC)
S25: Olathe East
O2: SM North
O9: atLawrence Free State (FSHS)
O16: at Blue Valley (BVHS)
O23: at BV West (BVW)
O30: Olathe South
Circle your calendar for: Oct. 16 at Blue Valley
A year ago, this game decided the district championship and might determine its winner again. At the very least, it will arguably be North’s biggest regular-season test.
Reason to cheer
No team is deeper or more talented in Kansas this season than North. Players make plays in crunch time to help ensure victory, and the Eagles are loaded with players.
Reason to fear
North knows that it is very good. Some teams tend to get cocky in that position. The Eagles won’t start the year overconfident. Still, it’s a natural tendency when the wins start coming easily and the ego gets pumped up.
Posted on Tue, Sep. 01, 2009 10:15 PM
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